Tag: Tess Craven

For Clarko And The Boys – LEARNING FROM THE GIRLS – (And From Ned)

A chance meeting last week with North Melbourne Kangaroo’s Irish AFLW players lead to me creating this today for the ‘Roos men’s team using the Scottish Gaelic origins of North Melbourne’s theme song:

A small fragment of the mostly lost movie The Story Of The Kelly Gang (which was the first feature film in the world) with a new soundtrack sung and put together by me. The first words in this song are from Harry Lauder’s smash hit of 1911 “Just a wee deoch an doris”. The North Melbourne football club theme song uses the melody of Lauder’s hit. I want to hear a better singer than I am perform this.

At the moment the North Melbourne women are the best team in the AFLW competition, whereas the men are beginning to climb the ladder after consecutive wooden spoons in 2021 and 2022.

What can the guys learn from the girls and from Ned?

Geoff Fox , October 17, 2025. West Footscray, Australia

November Contenders 2025 #1 – The Roos

One of the reasons North Melbourne is such a strong favourite for this year’s AFLW premiership is the effectiveness of their training.

They engage in lots of match practice and exercises to sharpen their skills and speed.

Yesterday against Essndon at Windy Hill, the Roos overcame a three goal deficit at quarter time to win convinvingly by five goals – an eight goal turnaround.

In the third quarter Tess Craven took possession on the fly leading to a goal against the wind that gave North a crucial nine point lead.

Gaelic football junior champion Blaithin Bogue halted an Essendon attacking thrust with this great tackle:

Best on ground in last year’s Grand Final against Brisbane was veteran Jas Garner. On Friday she kept control of the ball under tackling pressure from Essendon:

Geoff Fox, September 27, Melbourne, Australia

Shinboner Majesty Redefined – The Courageous Glory Of Beautiful Tess Craven

Since I first started following Aussie Rules footy at the age of 9 in 1967, the qualities I have most loved seeing are courage at the contest and skill, speed and flair.

Outstanding players I have seen in this regard are Barry Price, Keith Greig, Robbie Flower, Wayne Schimmelbusch, Garry Ablett Senior, Eddie Betts, The Krakouer brothers and the current Number 5 of the North Melbourne Kangaroos AFLW team, Tess Craven.

As a human being Tess is modest, kind, friendly and helpful and always puts her team ahead of herself. The strength, skill and determination she shows above in tackling a Melbourne opponent about one and a half times her size are awe-inspiring.

What’s not to love?

Geoff Fox, June 8, 2025, Melbourne, Australia